PolyMet Engages NorthMet Engineering Contractor

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - March 15, 2007) - PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX:POM) (AMEX:PLM) ("PolyMet") is pleased to report that it has engaged URS Corporation (URS) of Denver, Colorado as lead contractor for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) of its 100%-owned NorthMet project. NorthMet comprises a copper-nickel-precious metals ore-body and the nearby Erie Plant, located near Hoyt Lakes in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.

URS is one of the largest multi-discipline engineering companies in North America. Its mining group is based in Denver, where the bulk of the engineering will be completed. It also has an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota which will provide an important base for project execution. The NorthMet office complex at the Erie Plant, acquired from Cleveland Cliffs, Inc., will house the engineering and construction groups when the project moves to site.

PolyMet will benefit from URS' international purchasing group as well as its project control systems that will provide cost and schedule monitoring for PolyMet and the project finance lenders.

The Definitive Feasibility Study by Bateman Engineering Pty Ltd in Australia ("Bateman") demonstrates the technical and economically viability of the NorthMet project. The preliminary results of the DFS were reported in September 2006 and subsequently summarized in a Technical Report under National Instrument 43-101 filed on SEDAR.

It is planned that Bateman will continue as Owner's Engineer and the DFS team will remain intact as the Process Design group. To optimize the construction phase of the project, which will commence upon receipt of operating permits anticipated in October 2008, Bateman has commenced developing detailed process packages in conjunction with the completion of the DFS. Bateman and URS have entered into Memoranda of Understanding with PolyMet defining their respective scopes of work and responsibilities and have commenced work on detailed engineering.

Construction of NorthMet will be made up of four major components:

1. Refurbishment of the existing Erie Plant facilities

2. Construction of a new hydrometallurgical plant

3. Construction of the mine and reactivation of some existing mine infrastructure

4. Implementation of environmental safeguards.

PolyMet plans to maximize the use of local Minnesota firms and construction labor.

PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly-traded mine development company that owns 100% of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body and 100% of the Erie Plant, a large processing facility located approximately six miles from the ore body in the established mining district of the Mesabi Range in northeastern Minnesota. PolyMet is finalizing its Definitive Feasibility Study and is seeking environmental and operating permits in order to commence commercial production anticipated in the second half of 2008.